Biography

Born in Argentina, she doesn't come from a family with a dance background but at age six she already wanted to become a ballerina despite having never seen a full ballet. She trained with the Teatro Colón Ballet School. Núñez was auditioned by Anthony Dowell during a Royal Ballet tour around the U.S. in 1998. Dowell being in full Carabosse costume as Marianela performed for him. She joined the Royal Ballet School in 1998 and was chosen to be lead female in Soiree musicale at Dame Ninette de Valois's 100th Birthday Gala. She joined the company in 1999 and was promoted to principal in 2002.

Núñez already has a large repertory and has created La Neige in Les Saisons a role in Acheron's Dream and a role in DGV. 2005 proved to be a great year for Marianela as she won high critical acclaim for her performance as Lise in La Fille Mal Gardée partnering Carlos Acosta. Her recent performances in Sylvia have also won high acclaim from some very discerning critics.

She has been credited with a refined sense of style, and of displaying a unique understanding of the choreographer Frederick Ashtons' style. Marianela Nuñez won The prestigious Richard Sherrington Award for Best Female Dancer 2005. In 2006 Marianela performed several times in the latest Royal Ballet production of Sleeping Beauty, both as the Lilac Fairy and as Aurora. Critics were impressed by the warmth of her Lilac Fairy. Her Aurora was said to be among the Royal Ballet's finest since 1946 with "the phrasing of an angel" In July 2006 at Sadlers Wells Theatre, London, in "Acosta and Friends", Marianela partnered Carlos Acosta in the demanding Diana and Acteon pas de deux. This, for many, was the highlight of the show. In January 2007 Marianela was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her performances in The Royal Ballet’s Chroma and The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Opera House and in Carlos Acosta’s programme at Sadler’s Wells. In early 2007 Marianela once again took the lead in Swan Lake, of her performance one leading critic commented “every gesture sings, every step is luminous with emotion. The result is sublime“.

In July 2007 Marianela performed The Dying Swan at The Grand Opera House, York. She had been especially selected for this difficult piece by Margeurite Porter because of the simplicity and purity of her style.